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If it's comfortable and you like it, keep it. Originality is in the eye of the beholder, like everything else. It's not as if using the seat will make it any less original, or less able to be returned to stock than it is now.

Rob

Rob Frankham wrote: ↑Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:26 am If it's comfortable and you like it, keep it. Originality is in the eye of the beholder, like everything else. It's not as if using the seat will make it any less original, or less able to be returned to stock than it is now.

Rob

originality...smoriginality
Enjoy the bike as it is, it's a nice one.
Even the concours d'analgance judges don't always agree on certain items.
I would not personally commit to rating that bike's originality without first examining it close-up in person.

r90s smoked paint jobs are a good example. They were basically all flawless but no two were exactly alike.
I can spot the 'repaints' a mile away, even if they have virtually perfectly executed paint jobs.
Anyone who has owned a brand new r90s knows exactly what I mean.

Point to ponder: Odometer readings mean absolutely nothing.
Odometers used go back to zero at 99,999.
That's been almost universally changed to 999,999.
We can assume that 99,999 (miles or kilometers) was relatively high mileage back in the ol' days.
Many meticulous owners have been around the 5-digit clock, often more than once, with nary a visible cosmetic clue.
Going around a 6-digit clock without messing something up is pretty much unheard of.

Want to nitpick? One area that raises one of my eyebrows is the engine covers.
The front cover, timing chain cover, starter cover and air filter clamshell have a different finish than the actual crankcase and transmission. This is not original. They should all look like 'one solid lump'. Someone has messed with them. This is no big deal by anyone's standards, but to my eye it hints of possible UNoriginality.

If your bike could talk, I'm pretty sure it would be pleading with you to call Mike Corbin asap.
I find your seats' total lack of sympathy for other peoples' eyes a bit disconcerting.

busted. The clam shells and front cover were me giving them a clean and running steel wool over them, although on all of the air heads I’ve owned, these items have a much smoother finish than the engine and gearbox casings and tend to have a slightly different colour.

The bike was bought in 1975 with 1700 miles on it by the owner I talked with. He sold it to his neighbour in 1985 with 18700 miles on it. The neighbour used it briefly and put about 2000 miles on it. After that it was left, in his son’s words ‘meticulously covered’ in his barn until he died last year and the son sold it.

There is a black pin stripe on the tank which is unoriginal and by the feel of it, has been lacquered over. Whether this was on the original paint or a respray, I cannot tell, although the interior of the tank is like new; the red oxide is near perfect.

Not sure what difference the history makes. I've owned my R100 since new. What difference does that make? None to me.

Clearly the PO didn't care that the seat is fugly on a very nice machine. But do your thing.

As I have a late 1973, LWB /5...I can confirm that the inside of your headlight bucket, including the 2 fuses, looks very Correct. I am unsure IF the green, turn signal indicator has been changed over the years.
MY bike has the later, yellow indicator.
These will become brittle over time and require replacement, due to breakage. There are a few different color, replacements available.